Google looks to take healthcare into the Cloud

Google (NSDQ:GOOG) is taking its Cloud services into the field of healthcare as it aims to enable data sharing and collaboration between providers and patients, according to a recent blog post from the tech giant.

The company said it recently launched the Cloud Healthcare API service to address interoperability issues in healthcare data. The system includes a scalable infrastructure designed to ingest and manage healthcare data, including HL7, FHIR and DICOM formats, and allow for its use in analytics and machine learning systems, according to the post.

Google said it is already working with the Stanford School of Medicine through an early launch program to test the Cloud Healthcare API.

“Open standards are critical to healthcare interoperability as well as for enabling biomedical research. We have been using the Google Cloud Genomics API for a long time and are very excited to see Google Cloud expanding its offerings to include the new Cloud Healthcare API. The ability to combine interoperability with Google Cloud’s scalable analytics will have a transformative impact on our research community,” Stanford School of Medicine Research IT director Somalee Datta said in prepared statement.

The company said it is hopeful that its cloud-based Healthcare API will improve adoption of machine learning in the healthcare field and allow for increased clinical insights and improvements for patients, according to the blog post.

Google said it is working with a number of partners in the healthcare field utilizing its cloud-based services, including Flex, Imagia, Kanteron Systems and WuXi NextCODE.

Another partner, DiA Imaging Analysis, said today it inked a collaborative deal with Google Cloud looking to produce new automated tools for ultrasound imaging analysis.

The Israel-based company said it is developing tools using machine learning algorithms and pattern recognition on Google’s Cloud platform, looking to improve both immediate and remote evaluations of ultrasound images.

“One of DiA’s obvious advantages is its ability to operate cross platforms. Our automated tools can be easily implemented into any ultrasound device and any healthcare IT system including cloud based platforms, all as part of the physician’s workflow. Once Google Cloud announced its engagement with the medical imaging industry, it was natural that we join forces to offer our quick and accurate auto ultrasound analysis, together with Google’s cloud-enabled capabilities, in order to improve patient outcome,” DiA CEO Hila Aslan said in a prepared release.